Cover for a sliding roof system

ABSTRACT

A cover for a sliding roof system includes first and second guiding elements that are mounted to opposite sides of the cover in such a manner that their mutual distance is variable, and first and second pivot arbors that are formed on the cover so as to have a fixed distance between them. The cover also includes first and second adjusting elements. The first adjusting element is coupled to the first guiding element and mounted to the cover such that the first adjusting element can be rotated about the first pivot arbor. The second adjusting element is coupled to the second guiding element and mounted to the cover such that the second adjusting element can be rotated about the second pivot arbor. A first traction member is coupled to the first and second adjusting elements on one side of the respective first and second pivot arbors, and a second traction member is coupled to the first and second adjusting elements on an opposite side of the respective first and second pivot arbors. The first and second traction members are permanently subjected to a tensile load.

This application claims priority to German Application No. 10 2004 050 811.9, which was filed on Oct. 19, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a cover for a sliding roof system.

With known sliding roof systems, a cover is able to fully or partially expose a roof opening because in most cases, the cover is coupled to two guide rails so as to be able to travel thereon. Such covers can be used in sliding/tilting roofs in which the cover is shifted so as to lie underneath a rigid roof skin, and in spoiler roofs in which the cover is shifted so as to lie above the rigid roof skin. The guide rails in which the cover is moved usually extend parallel to edges of the rigid roof skin. As the roofs in modern vehicles usually are designed to have a curvature and a width, which varies from the front to the rear, the guide rails are not arranged parallel to each other. Such non-parallel guide rails are known from DE 100 02 457 A1, for example.

When the guide rails do not extend parallel to each other, it is difficult to shift the cover such that the cover is centered, because the distance between the guide rails varies.

In view of this problem there has been proposed in DE 100 02 457 A1 to provide parallelogram guides with pivoting arms that are arranged parallel to each other. This solution is disadvantageous because the articulating parallelogram/guides are expensive and complex. Moreover, they require considerable packaging space.

Centering mechanisms for covers are also known, comprising non-buckling drive elements, which are coupled to each other. These drive elements also need a considerable packaging space. This might result in the drive elements overlapping sections of a glass surface of a glass cover thereby limiting an area designated to see through the glass cover.

Thus, there is a need for a cover for a sliding roof system, which requires low expenditure and space and is centered during shifting between two non-parallel guide rails.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention provides a cover for a sliding roof system that includes first and second guiding elements that are mounted to opposite sides of the cover in such a manner that their mutual distance is variable, and first and second pivot arbors that are formed on the cover so as to have a fixed distance between them. The cover also includes first and second adjusting elements, with the first adjusting element being coupled to the first guiding element and mounted to the cover such that the first adjusting element can be rotated about the first pivot arbor, and the second adjusting element being coupled to the second guiding element and mounted to the cover such that the second adjusting element can be rotated about the second pivot arbor. A first traction member is coupled to the first and second adjusting elements on one side of the respective first and second pivot arbors, and a second traction member is coupled to the first and second adjusting elements on an opposite side of the respective first and second pivot arbors. The first and second traction members are each permanently subjected to a tensile load when coupled to the first and second adjusting elements.

The advantages achieved with the invention include a space-saving centering of the cover that is made possible due to the use of the first and second traction members. The first and second traction members, which are constantly under tensile load further ensure that the cover may be shifted and held without any play.

The first and second adjusting elements are preferably two-armed levers, which are effective in their function and can also be easily installed.

It is preferred in one embodiment that the first and second adjusting elements are constituted by gearwheels in combination with a rope pulley. Using gearwheels prevents any jerky movement during shifting the cover due to the inertia of the gearwheels.

Preferably, a spring is provided that keeps a respective traction member under tensile load. The spring allows a pretension of the traction member and in this way a quick installation of the first and second traction members.

These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle roof with a sliding roof system cover according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of a cover for the sliding roof system in a first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view of the cover for the sliding roof system in a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged detail of the area designated with X of the cover in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view through the cover for the sliding roof system of FIG. 3 along line V-V.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a vehicle roof 10 including a sliding roof system. The sliding roof system has a roof opening 12 in a rigid roof part 14. The roof opening 12 can be exposed by a cover 16, which can be shifted contrary to the direction of travel X of a vehicle.

The cover 16 is guided in two guide rails 18 that are arranged parallel to edges of the rigid roof part 14. As the roofs in modern vehicles usually are designed to have a curvature and a width, which varies from a front to a rear of the vehicle, the guide rails 18 that extend along the edges of the rigid roof part 14 are not parallel to each other. The distance between the guide rails 18 correspondingly varies as a function of the position along an observed longitudinal axis.

The cover 16 can be shifted in the guide rails 18 in a basically known manner and can be transferred by a drive mechanism (not illustrated) from a closed position to an open position and vice versa. The invention both relates to spoiler roofs in which the cover is shifted so as to lie above a rigid roof skin, and to sliding/tilting roofs in which the cover is shifted so as to lie underneath the rigid roof skin, as well as to covers made of metal, plastic, transparent material, glass etc.

FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the cover 16 for a sliding roof system. A first guiding element 20 and a second guiding element 22 are mounted to opposite sides of the cover 16. The first and second guiding elements 20, 22 run in the guide rails 18 and are shown as carriages in FIG. 2. The first and second guiding elements 20, 22 are engaged by the drive mechanism for the cover 16.

A working lever 24 is articulated on the first guiding element 20. The working lever 24 is received in a slotted guide 26, which is firmly attached on cover 16 and made up of a slot and a pin that moves within the slot. Other guides, such as a receiving mechanism for the working lever 24 are possible, too.

A first adjusting element 30 is connected through a joint 28 with an end of the working lever 24 facing away from the guiding element 20. The first adjusting element 30 is configured as a two-armed lever, which is rotatably supported at a center of the two-armed lever on the cover 16 by a pivot arbor 32.

A first traction member 34 is fastened to an end of the two-armed lever that is coupled to working lever 24 through joint 28. Fastened to an opposite end of the two-armed lever is a second traction member 36. The first and second traction members 34, 36 are realized as metal cables or chains and are held taut. Required pretension of the first and second traction members 34, 36 can be provided by a spring (not shown).

A point-symmetric arrangement of this described embodiment is shown on an opposite side. The second guiding element 22 has a working lever 37 that is articulated on the second guiding element 22 and guided in a slotted guide 38. The working lever 37 again is coupled through a joint 40 with a second adjusting element 42. In this arrangement, the second adjusting element 42 is also a two-armed lever. The two-armed lever is rotatably supported at a center of the two-armed lever on the cover 16 by a second pivot arbor 44.

The second traction member 36 engages an end of the second adjusting element 42, configured as the two-armed lever, to which the working lever 37 is coupled. The first traction member 34 engages an opposite end of the two-armed lever.

The first and second traction members 34, 36 each are coupled with the first and second adjusting elements 30, 42 on one side of the corresponding first and second pivot arbors 32, 44, i.e. the first and second traction members 34, 36 do not cross each other, but extend approximately parallel to each other.

When cover 16 is shifted in direction V, the distance between the guide rails 18 becomes larger. Thereby the two-armed levers comprising the first and second adjusting elements 30, 42 will rotate about the first and second pivot arbors 32, 44 in a clockwise direction and parallel to each other. In this process, the first and second traction members 34, 36 keep the distance between the first and second adjusting elements 30, 42 constant and are subjected to a permanent tensile load.

When cover 16 is shifted contrary to direction V, the distance between the guide rails 18 becomes smaller and the two-armed levers comprising the first and second adjusting elements 30, 42 will rotate counter-clockwise and parallel to each other. In so doing, the first and second traction members 34, 36 again keep the distance constant and are subjected to a tensile load.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the cover 16 for the sliding roof system of FIG. 1. For the components known from the first embodiment, the same reference numerals will be used, and reference is made to the above explanations for these components.

As in the first embodiment, the first and second traction members 34, 36 each have a coupling point on the first and second adjusting elements 30, 42 on one side of the respective first and second pivot arbors 32, 44. The first and second adjusting elements 30, 42 are configured as gearwheels and have cable pulleys (see FIG. 5) to which the first and second traction members 34, 36 are attached. The first and second adjusting elements 30, 42 that are configured as gearwheels, are supported on the cover 16 so as to be capable of rotating on the first and second pivot arbors 32, 44.

The first and second adjusting elements 30, 42, configured as gearwheels, engage first and second toothed racks 46, 48, which are arranged at opposite ends of rectangular recesses in the first and second guiding elements 20, 22.

FIG. 4 shows the arrangement of the first and second traction members 34, 36 on an example of the first adjusting element 30. The second adjusting element 42 would be configured in the same way. The second traction member 36 is coupled to the first adjusting element 30 through a spring 50, while the first traction member 34 is firmly fastened to the first adjusting element 30. It would also be possible to affix both the first and second traction members 34, 36 with springs 50 or without springs 50. The springs 50, however, allow an easier assembly. Further, the pretension of the first and second traction members 34, 36 will be ensured.

FIG. 5 shows a section through the second adjusting element 42. It will be appreciated that the first adjusting element 30 is designed in the same manner. A cable pulley, being part of the second adjusting element 42 designed as a gearwheel, receives the first and second traction members 34, 36 and guides them. The second adjusting element 42 engages the second toothed rack 48 on one side and is supported on cover 16 through the second pivot arbor 44.

The function of the second embodiment is identical to that of the first embodiment. Here again, the first and second traction members 34, 36 are subject to a permanent tensile load and allow a constant distance between the first and second pivot arbors 32, 44 and hence of the guiding elements 20, 22. During shifting the cover 16, the gearwheels can rotate and the first and second toothed racks 46, 48 travel in an outward direction (when cover 16 is shifted in direction V) or in an inward direction (when cover 16 is shifted contrary to direction V). In the process, the adjusting elements, which are configured as gearwheels ensure a smooth movement due to the inertia of the gearwheels.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention. 

1. A cover for a sliding roof system comprising: first and second guiding elements that are mounted to opposite sides of the cover such that a distance between the first and second guiding elements is variable; first and second pivot arbors that are formed on the cover to have a fixed distance between the first and second pivot arbors; first and second adjusting elements, with the first adjusting element being coupled to the first guiding element and mounted to the cover such that the first adjusting element can be rotated about the first pivot arbor, and the second adjusting element being coupled to the second guiding element and mounted to the cover such that the second adjusting element can be rotated about the second pivot arbor; a first traction member that is coupled to the first and second adjusting elements on one side of the first and second pivot arbors; and a second traction member that is coupled to the first and second adjusting elements on an opposite side of the first and second pivot arbors, the first and second traction members being subjected to a tensile load.
 2. The cover according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second adjusting elements is a two-armed lever.
 3. The cover according to claim 2 wherein a corresponding one of the first and second guiding elements is articulated to the two-armed lever by a working lever.
 4. The cover according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second adjusting elements comprises a gearwheel in combination with a cable pulley.
 5. The cover according to claim 4 wherein a corresponding one of the first and second guiding elements comprises a toothed rack that is coupled to the gearwheel.
 6. The cover according to claim 1 wherein the first and second traction members are configured as two separate components.
 7. The cover according to claim 1 wherein the first and second traction members are configured in one piece.
 8. The cover according to claim 7 including a spring that keeps at least one of the first and second traction members under tensile load.
 9. The cover according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second traction members is a metal cable.
 10. The cover according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second traction members is a chain.
 11. The cover according to claim 1 wherein the first traction member extends laterally between the first and second adjusting elements on one longitudinal side of the first and second pivot arbors and the second traction member extends laterally between the first and second adjusting elements on an opposite longitudinal side of the first and second pivot arbors.
 12. The cover according to claim 1 wherein the first and second adjusting elements pivot relative to the cover as the cover is shifted between first and second positions, and wherein the first and second adjusting elements remain parallel to each other during pivoting movement to maintain a constant distance between the first and second adjusting elements.
 13. The cover according to claim 1 wherein the first and second guiding elements are slidably received in first and second guide rails, respectively.
 14. The cover according to claim 13 including a first working lever coupled to the first guiding element and the first adjusting member, and a second working lever coupled to the second guiding element and the second adjusting member.
 15. The cover according to claim 14 wherein the first and second working levers are each attached to the cover with a slot and pin connection.
 16. The cover according to claim 1, wherein the first and second traction members are permanently subjected to the tensile load once the first and second traction members are coupled to the first and second adjusting elements. 